The first hours after a death are the hardest. Yet certain practical steps cannot wait. This guide tells you what takes priority — in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
The 5 Essential Steps in the First 72 Hours
1. Have a Doctor Certify the Death
Only a doctor can officially certify a death and issue the medical death certificate. At home, call the GP or out-of-hours medical service. In a hospital or care home, the institution handles this automatically. This document is required for all subsequent steps.
2. Register the Death with the Municipality
Death registration is legally required in all three countries. In practice, the funeral director handles this on the family's behalf. If you do it yourself, go to the local authority (Belgium/Luxembourg) or the municipality where the death occurred (Netherlands). After registration you receive the death certificate and a burial/cremation permit.
3. Choose a Funeral Director
A funeral director takes care of most formalities: transport of the body, laying out, coffin options, the ceremony, registration with the municipality, and permits. You are not obliged to use the first company you contact — asking two or three for quotes is perfectly normal.
4. Notify Employer, Bank, and Insurer
Within the first few days, several institutions must be informed — all of them will require an official certified death certificate extract: the employer or pension service (to stop salary/pension payments), the bank (partial account freeze), insurers, health insurer, and the notary for the estate.
5. Request Enough Death Certificate Extracts
Every institution requires an original certified extract — not a photocopy. Request 8 to 10 extracts when you register the death. It is cheaper and simpler than ordering them later. Cost: free to approximately €20 per extract depending on country and municipality.
Country Comparison: Deadlines and Procedures
| Aspect | Belgium | Netherlands | Luxembourg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical certification | GP or out-of-hours service | GP or municipal coroner | GP or emergency doctor |
| Registration deadline | As soon as possible (digitally via eLys) | Before funeral, max 6 working days | Generally within 24 hours |
| Who registers? | Funeral director (on family's behalf) | Funeral director or family | Family, funeral director, or authorised person |
| Burial/cremation deadline | A few days after registration | By the 6th working day | Between 24 and 72 hours after death |
| Death certificate extracts from | Municipality of death | Municipality of death (also online) | Only the registering commune |
| Recommended number of extracts | 8–10 | 8–10 | 8–10 |
Practical Checklist for Bereaved Families
| Task | Timing |
|---|---|
| Have a doctor certify the death | Immediately |
| Contact a funeral director | Within 24 hours |
| Inform immediate family and close friends | Within 24 hours |
| Register the death with the municipality | As soon as possible |
| Request 8–10 death certificate extracts | At the time of registration |
| Notify employer or pension service | Within 1–2 days |
| Notify the bank | Within 1–2 days |
| Contact insurers | Within 1 week |
| Notify health insurer | Within 1 week |
| Contact a notary for the estate | Within 2 weeks |